Storage bin construction



y 3952 A. B. oscsoon STORAGE BIN CON$TRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1950 Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STORAGE BIN CONSTRUCTION Arthur B. Osgood, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Day Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application January 9, 1950, Serial No. 137,525 I My invention relates generally to storage bin construction and, more specifically, to means adapted to be incorporated in a storage bin for granular material, whereby to prevent packing of said material in the bin.

When certain granular materials, such as bran and the like, are placed in bins for storage, weight of the material adjacent the top of the bin causes packing of the material near the bottom thereof to a degree wherein it becomes difficult to discharge said material through the opening usually provided in the bottom of the bin. This is particularly true in the case of storage bins having considerable depth and wherein lower portions of the side walls are in converging relationship. In the. event of the above-mentioned packing of the material, a relatively small quantity thereof may flow outwardly through the discharge opening but the greater portion of material is so packed as to have a bridging effect and must be loosenedby setting up vibrations in the bin walls or otherwise.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of means adapted to be mounted in a storage bin, as set forth, which will partially support the granular material therein, whereby to prevent said above-described packing of the material.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a device for preventing packing of granular material in a storage bin, which can be produced and installed with but a minimum of effort, and which is extremely durable in use.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a depending member having thereon a plurality of spaced horizontal material-supporting shelf elements which may be vertically adjustable on said depending member.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a depending member for supporting the above-described shelf elements, which is flexible in nature.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a supporting structure for said depending member, which may be secured to the side walls of a storage bin, as set forth, adjacent the open upper end thereof.

Other highly important objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through 2 Claims; (01. 222-459) 2 a conventional storage bin for granular materials, incorporating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a, horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, takenon .the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, an open-topped storage bin is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1 and comprises a generally cylindrical side wall 2 which converges adjacent its lower end as indicated at 3 and terminates at its bottom in a discharge opening 4. As shown, the cylindrical side wall 2 and the converging portion 3 are made up of separate sections welded or otherwise secured at their adjacent edges and reinforced by peripheral flanges 5. The bin I is of standard construction and may be made from wood, metal. or any suitable material.

A supporting structure comprises an annular band 6 and a pair of cross members I and 8 extending diametrically of the band 6 at right angles to each other. The arms I and 8 are preferably welded together at their point of joinder and at their outer ends to the band 6. The band 6 is rigidly secured to the inner wall of the storage bin I adjacent its open top by any suitable means, such as welding or the like. It will be noted that the band 6 is circular, although, when constructed for use with bins having other than circular cross section, the band 6 will conform to the cross-sectional shape of the bin. A plurality of clevises or the like 9 are pivotally secured to the arms 1 and 8 and have mounted fast thereon depending hangers [0. The hangers 10 may, if desired, be in the form of rigid bars or rods but, preferably and as shown, are in the nature of flexible cables which terminate at their bottoms in relatively closely-spaced relation to the discharge opening 4 of the bin. As shown, the hanger members It are spaced apart laterally within the bin 1, each carrying a plurality of vertically-spaced horizontally-disposed shelf elements in the nature of circular plates l I having central openings l2 through which the cables [0 extend. The plates H are supported on the cables ill by suitable clamps l3 by means of which the spacing of the plates II on each cable [0 may be varied.

It will be seen, by reference to Fig. 1, that the several plates on each of the hanger cables H] are in vertically staggered relationship with the plates H on adjacent cables 10. Assuming that -'the discharge opening 4 of the grain bin is closed by conventional means not shown, when grain such as bran is placed in the bin I, each of the several shelf-forming plates H tends to support a portion of the material. The staggered relationship of the several plates ll effectively supports the grain in the bin to an extent which effectively prevents packing of the material and permits the same to flow readily outwardly of the discharge opening 4 when the same is opened. Obviously, when the bin is emptied of grain, some of the grain remains upon the several plates l I. However, this residual material needs to be removed only when the bin is to be used for storing material different from the material which was removed therefrom. The number and spacing of the plates 1 l on the cables [0 is determined by the material to be stored therein and the cross-sectional area of the bin.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown a commercial embodiment of my improved device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a horizontal supporting member adapted to be secured within a storage bin adjacent the upper end thereof and in spanning relation to the interior thereof, a plurality of elongated suspension members depending from the supporting member into the bin in laterally spaced relation to each other and to the sides of the bin, said suspension members having their upper ends flexibl connected to the supporting member for swinging movement thereof within the bin, and a plurality of normally horizontally disposed and vertically spaced shelf-like material supporting plates mounted on each of said suspension members, said horizontal supporting member comprising a circular band adapted to engage the wall of a circular storage bin and a pair of diametricallyextended arms at right angles to each other, and in which the suspension members are pivotally secured to said arms by means of clevises.

2. In a device of the class described, a horizontal supporting member adapted to be secured within a storage bin adjacent the upper end thereof and in spanning relation to the interior thereof, a plurality of elongated suspension members depending from the supporting member into the bin in laterally spaced relation to each other and to the sides of the bin, said suspension members having their upper ends flexibly connected to the supporting member for Swinging movement thereof within the bin, and a plurality of normally horizontally disposed and vertically spaced shelf-like material supporting plates mounted on each of said suspension members, said material supporting plates being adjustably supported on the suspension members for variable spacing thereof lengthwise of the suspension members.

ARTHUR B. OSGOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 527,329 Foster Oct. -9, 1894 1,462,119 Moetteli July 17, 1923 2,228,421 Taylor Jan. 14, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 407,182 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1934 414,609 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1934 706,166 Germany May 19, 1941 

